Transport Options
Plan to drench up the fashion and daylight of Sydney! Domestic to wonderful, sundrenched shorelines, a shining harbor and lavish national parks, Sydney’s warm climate advances an dynamic, open air way of life. It has an extraordinary expressions and social scene, is domestic to awesome eateries, cafes and bars and best of all, it contains a brilliant buzz.
The climate in Sydney is mild, and the seasons are distinguishable from each other. For those of you who live near the Equator, you will notice a distinct difference between Summer and Winter, and that we have no Wet Season. For those of you who come from countries higher up in the Northern Hemisphere, you will notice that our Summers and Winters happen at the opposite times of the year to what you are used to.
Sydney can be quite humid around February. The average yearly rainfall is 75 – 130 mm, and it can be very windy sometimes.
| SUMMER | December – February | 25 – 30 °C |
|---|---|---|
| AUTUMN | March – May | 12 – 18 °C |
| WINTER | June – August | 10 – 15 °C |
| SPRING | September – November | 15 – 25 °C |
Australia uses a Decimal currency system, where 100 cents = one dollar ($). We have six coins – 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, which are silver coloured, and $1 and $2, which are gold. We have five notes, made from plastic – $5 (pink /purple), $10 (blue), $20 (red), $50 (yellow), and $100 (green).
If you have had a licence in your own country for more than a year, you can apply for an Australian Driving Licence, but you must pass a driving test. If you are on a Student or Working Holiday visa and studying for 10 weeks or less you can drive using your International Licence, if you already have one. Roads and Maritime Services (RMS)
which is part of Service NSW, is at 19 York Street (near Wynyard Station) and will be able to advise you of what you have to do and where you need to go to arrange an Australian Licence.
If you are a member of your country’s motoring club and you have your membership card, you can get free information and maps from NRMA, located on George Street.
There are many cafes, restaurants, pubs and theatres located throughout Parramatta, Harris Park, Nort Rocks, Sydney Olympic Park, Epping and Dundas. There is also a good selection of gyms and health clubs. Parramatta Westfield, Paramatta Square and Parramatta Eat Streat are all within easy walking distance. The stunning Parramatta River and Riverside Theatre precinct are within walking distance. You must be 18 years of age to go to a pub, club or gambling venue (Club Parramatta or Parramatta Leagues Club ). You may be asked to show your ID or passport in order to enter these places.
The City of Parramatta Library is located in the same building as your college. It is open to the public during extended business hours. Students are able to join the public libraries located in the areas they are living in. Moreover, The State Library of NSW and Sydney City Library can be other perfect locations for your study.
Sydney city and Parramatta have many doctors and dentists to choose from, should you need to be treated.
There are also chiropractors, podiatrists, dietitians, physiotherapists, Chinese herbalists,
optometrists and many specialists. For the service you need, visit www.yellowpages.com.au. Make sure you take your current healthcare card with you.
Shop 1 144 Marsden St, Parramatta NSW 2150
Phone: (02) 8320 9300
https://www.parramattamedical.com.au/
LEVEL 1, 50 YORK STREET, SYDNEY NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9299 4661
Additional Notes: SAME DAY CONSULTATION.
OPEN 7 DAYS (8AM-6PM). BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
International students pay approximately $40 copayment/gap
LEVEL 1, 70 PITT STREET, SYDNEY NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9231 1000
International students must pay $25 co-payment/gap
LOWER GROUND FLOOR, SHOP 9.01,
WORLD SQUARE Phone: (02) 9264 8500
LEVEL 3, 491 KENT ST, SYDNEY NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9264 0222
LEVEL 5, 25-29 Dixon St, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 9212 1968
8/151 CASTLEREAGH ST, SYDNEY NSW 2000
Phone: 8197 3388 – 8am – 6pm
308 GEORGE ST, SYDNEY NSW 2000
Phone: 9238 3211 – 7:30am – 5:30pm
| Name | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Ambulance/ Fire Brigade /Police Emergency | 000 | |
| Prince of Wales Hospital | High St Randwick NSW | 2031 02 9399 0111 |
| St. Vincent’s Hospital | Victoria St Darlinghurst NSW 2010 | 02 8382 1111 |
| Medical Services (24 Hour Service) | 02 93893133 | |
| Dental Emergency Service (24 Hour Service) | 029663 4237 | |
| Poison Information Centre | 131 126 | |
| Translating and Interpreting Services | 131 450 | |
| NRMA (24 Hour road service); | 131 111 | |
| Taxis Combined | 8332 8888 | |
| Sydney Taxis | 131 008 | |
| Department of Home Affairs (DHA) | 26 Lee Street Sydney | 131 881 |
| ELSIS | Level 1, 160-166 Sussex Street Sydney | Ph. 02 8265 3200 |
The Parramatta CBD area is the main commercial area in Parramatta and is well serviced by banks, restaurants, shops, post offices and public transport.
BANKSAll the major banks have a branch in the city centre; ANZ, HSBC, Westpac, The Commonwealth Bank, St. George, and National Australia Bank (NAB).
Opening hours are 9:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Thursday, and 9:30am to 5:00pm on Fridays. Automatic Teller Machines (ATM’s) are available 24 hours at most banks, but you should avoid using them late at night, for security reasons.
When you go to a bank to open an account, you will need to take your Passport with you, as well as two (2) other forms of identification and tell the bank officer that you are a student.
POST OFFICEOpening hours are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday, and they offer a range of services including payment of bills, stationery items, cards and wrapping, faxing, calendars and diaries and small gifts, as well as the usual range of postal services. Some major post offices are open on Saturday mornings. The nearest Post Office to the CHS is in Parramatta Westfield which is just 300 metres away.
SHOPPINGParramatta offers so many shopping areas, department stores and arcades. Westfield Parramatta and Parramatta Farmers’ Market are close to the school. The major department Stores are David Jones and Myer, and supermarkets, (Woolworths and Coles) are nearby.
EATINGSydney City offers a wide range of eating choices from cheap take-aways to expensive restaurants, covering many different cuisines. There are also several Asian supermarkets located nearby in Chinatown, and Health Food shops in the shopping centres.
SPORTS FACILITIESSydney city and nearby suburbs are very well served by sport facilities, so if you want to continue playing the sport you played at home, or if you want to take up a sport while you are here, the following list should help:`
| Tennis | Cooper Park, Bellevue Hill – Moore Park Tennis Courts, Moore Park – Waverley Park Tennis Court, Waverley – Maccabi Tennis Centre, Bondi |
| Swimming | Cook & Phillip Aquatic, Fitness and Recreation Centre – City Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool – City Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre, Ultimo Prince Alfred Park Pool, City Victoria Park Pool The beaches (Bondi, Coogee, Bronte, Clovelly, Manly, Cronulla, Maroubra, Tamarama, etc) |
| Ten-Pin Bowling | Randwick Bowl, Randwick Mascot (Gardeners Road) Darling Harbour |
| Golf | Bondi Golf Links, North Bondi Moore Park Golf Link, Moore Park Eastlakes Golf Course |
| Martial Arts | Huge variety – see Yellow Pages under Martial Arts |
| Gym | Cook & Phillip Aquatic, Fitness and Recreation Centre – City Fitness First – Market and Sussex Streets Fitness First – Pitt Street Fit n Fast – Liverpool Street Make sure you ask if they offer student discounts |